The Want of a sufficient Power in Congress to regulate the national Concerns of the
United States is now pretty generally seen and has been severely felt. In the opening
of the last Session of the Gen Court, the Governor in his Address to both Houses among
other Things laments that Congress had not been authorized to regulate their foreign
Trade, and suggests the Necessity of further Powers being given to that Body. The
Legislature took the Matter into Consideration and prepared Letters to the several
States, to the President of Congress and to their own Delegates proposing a Convention
for the purpose of revising the Confederation and of curing the Evils felt { 257 } | view and apprehended. But untill that could be effected, Measures were adopted and Laws
enacted to prevent the Excess of Importations and to counteract the operation of those
Laws of Great Britain which more immediately affect our Commerce—as You will find
by the enclosed Papers.1

I have enclosed an Account of the Transaction of your Affairs to the 21st. Ultimo
which Mr. Cranch has examined.

Master Charles has entered College. Mr. John has arriv'd at New York. I expect him
dayly. In a few Days I shall probably draw upon You for £50 or 100£ as I apprehend
the encreasing Expence of the Education of Your Children will make it necessary. I
wish You equal Success at London, as heretofore at the Hague, And Am with sincere
Regard Yours

[signed] Cotton Tufts

P.S. I shall write more fully to Mrs. Adams upon Your domestic Concerns.2

1. Gov. James Bowdoin's address, delivered on 31 May, was published in the Independent Chronicle, 2 June, in the Boston Gazette, 6 June, and in the Continental Journal, 9 June. A list of all laws passed in the May-July session appeared in the Independent Chronicle, 7 July. See also JQA to JA, 3 Aug., note 3, above.

2. Cotton Tufts' next extant letters to AA are dated 12 and 14 Oct., both below.